Monthly Department Updates

Solid Waste Department
(from the November 10, 2018 staff memo to the Board of Directors)

1. Solid Waste Department
The Department was pleased to receive news that the Board approved renaming the Department to Zero Waste Department at the November 6th Board meeting and update relevant associated names. An additional interview for the Solid Waste Program Intern position was conducted without success, and a revised posting for the position is being prepared. Staff participated in the 80th Anniversary Committee, CAC Meeting, IT Committee, Sharing and Innovation meeting, and WOW Committee.

2. Solid Waste Committee
The Committee is scheduled to meet on November 13th.

3. Zero Waste

At the quarterly Sharing and Innovation meeting, the Department reviewed edits to the Zero Waste Strategic Plan and discussed modifications to the Zero Waste Communications Plan. Staff is researching the development of a revised measurement of zero waste to include both recycling rates through the municipal program and capturing waste prevention efforts based on target pounds per person per day disposal from CalRecycle.

4. Alameda County Industries (ACI)
The Department is developing draft layouts for four new guides, 2019-2024: Single-Family, Multi-Family, Commercial, and Schools. A meeting with ACI was held on October 11th, 18th, 26th, and 29th to discuss rates and corresponding contract language, preparation for the 5-year Proposition 218 notification, and commercial and multi-family outreach.

5. Waste Management of Alameda County (WMAC)

Monthly Coordination Meeting: A meeting was held on October 11th; please see attached meeting minutes.

6. Multi-Family Recycling

No audit or maintenance letters were mailed this month. Several donation requests were processed for multi-family properties in October.

7. Commercial Recycling

Commercial Audits: Staff met with two businesses to assess recycling and organics programs. Both businesses sought assistance from CVSan staff for significant projects to take steps towards improving recycling and organics sorting. Staff will continue to work with these businesses and will continue audits with more businesses in November.

4R Star Program: No applications were received in October.

4R Star Employee Recognition Brunch: The 5th annual CVSan 4R Star Business Employee Recognition Brunch took place on October 26th and was well attended by local 4R Star businesses. Attendees watched a short presentation about CVSan’s program and shared information about their own experiences with waste reduction. As well, employees from four businesses were specially recognized with awards for their work with adopting the 4R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot at their workplaces.

8. School Programs
Staff has completed 26 Refresher assemblies and presentations at 15 schools and has one school remaining in November. The online registration system for 4Rs Field Trips is open and more than half of all 3rd grade classes in Castro Valley have already registered for their 2019 field trips.

9. Street Cans/Recycling Pyramids and Maintenance

No audit was conducted in October. The next audit is scheduled for November 20th and 21st.

The spring Filter Exchange Program will run from February 18, 2019 - March 29, 2019. Staff is currently editing publicity materials to begin distribution in January.

12. Earth Day Clean-Up and Recycles Day

Clean-Up: Staff has begun outreach to sponsors for CVSan’s Earth Day Clean-Up, to be held on Saturday, April 13th.

Recycles Day: Staff received WMAC’s Recycles Day report, which will be included in CVSan’s detailed report. CVSan’s report will be completed in November.

13. Advertisements

Four Solid Waste-focused ads ran in the Castro Valley Forum during October: one ad focused on the 4R Star Business Employee Appreciation Event, one ad focused on the high school student scholarship, one ad focused on the Community Group Outreach application deadline, and one ad focused on gleaning and National Hunger Month.

14. Pipeline Newsletter

During October the Fall 2018 Pipeline was finalized and will reach the public in mid-November.

17. Reduce
Staff continues to roll out the 2018/19 theme: “Reduce Your Use” with a sub-theme of “Do Away with Throw-Away” with presentations and advertisements.

18. Reuse
The next Fixit Clinic will be held on February 9, 2019, at the Castro Valley Library. Staff is currently creating publicity materials and will continue to coordinate with Fixit Clinic coaches and organizers to prepare for the event.

19. Event Greening
Staff worked with CVSF on greening for the Run to the Dam on October 21st and is working with Alameda County on the upcoming Meet in the Street for November 11th.

20. Community Group Outreach
Nineteen Refresher presentations were given to 10 different schools in September.

21. Green Hearts Volunteers
The Castro Valley High School Green Hearts Committee met in October and discussed the following topics: the 18/19 school year and on-campus recycling/organics programs, the Green Student, outdoor stations, and Meet in the Street Green Hearts monitors.